Tag Archive: travel agent software

18th January 2016 7:22 pmComments Off on Multicom add new airlines to boost Far East sales push

Travel management software specialists Multicom has announced the addition of eleven new airlines to its market leading online booking engine FindandBook designed to boost Far East sales.

The addition of carriers such as Firefly, WOW air, Lion Air and Eastern Airways will help increase business for Multicom with new clients in the region, particularly in the growing Chinese market.

Multicom Chief Executive John Howell said: “Our expansion into the Far East and with the demand in China especially strong. These additions ensure that we can offer a wider choice of carriers to service those markets.

“The integration of these 11 new airlines to FindandBook will address that and has already ensured we can deliver for at least two new customers in the region.

“We are always keen to expand our growing database of suppliers, be that in the air or on the ground, and will continue to work with our expanding customer portfolio to ensure they have access to the products they need to satisfy their customer’s needs.”

Multicom expect to announce further plans and development for their travel booking software for 2016 in the coming weeks in the build up to the Travel Technology Europe show in February and ITB Berlin in March.

11th January 2016 8:18 pmComments Off on Multicom look back on another successful year and prepare for the challenges of 2016

Travel management software specialist Multicom has enjoyed a busy year developing its brand on the international stage and securing new business in a range of overseas territories.

Multicom secured various new contracts in the Middle East, Europe and the Far East underpinning the commitment to growing its overseas business, while further enhancing the reputation of FindandBook as the market-leading online booking software.

The year started with the successful completion for Multicom of a new contract with Malta travel specialists Robert Arrigo & Sons who became the latest business to enjoy the benefits of MultiCommerce, the virtual card payment system from the travel software agent specialists.

The St Julians based company, with over 30 years experience, is the leading inbound travel specialist on the Maltese islands and is already a FindandBook supplier, Multicom’s market leading online travel software.

Multicom’s success continued with the acquisition of new contracts with Cyprus Premier (North Cyprus specialists) Stoke Newington Travel (Caribbean Specialists), Mark Warner (Ski Specialists), CV Villas (part of the Kuoni Group) and the Bookable Holidays (part of the TravelUp Group).

The Bristol-based travel software company then turned its attention to preparations for the ITB in Berlin in April, the ideal platform to showcase the benefits of its products to an industry that relies on seamless, fast and reliable travel management software.

Hot on the heels of the Berlin show Multicom were on the road again in May promoting its travel booking engine FindandBook at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) in Dubai and reaching yet more new customers.

The company already supports Dubai-based South Travels who signed up for Multicom’s travel agent software last year while Rehlat Travel in Kuwait, iTrip, part of the Saudi-based travel giant Fursan Travel, and Adonis Travel of Istanbul highlight their growing customer base in the region.

Over the summer events in the Middle East, Tunisia and the refugee crisis that spilled over to Greece dominated the headlines and the travel software company closely monitored the impact on the travel industry.

However, as Multicom reported at the time, demand for Greek holidays remained in line with expectations with enquiries and bookings via its travel booking engine FindandBook maintaining comparable levels year on year.

As autumn approached plans were underway for the annual World Travel Market event in London where Multicom revealed details of its travel management software WebVoyage.

The new features unveiled for WebVoyage included more responsive functionality that is compatible with both mobile and tablet devices; post booking up-sell facilities for agents and a payment reminder and chase up system to produce automated emails to clients.

As the year drew to a close events in Egypt and Paris again highlighted the fragile nature of the sector and the impact on British holidaymakers future travel plans is yet to be full realised.

Multicom Chief Executive John Howell said: “Over the years British holidaymakers have shown they can be very resilient when faced with the threat of disruption to their travel plans or an increased risk to their safety for whatever reason.

“While it is probably too early to assess the full impact of recent events the peak booking period in January may well offer some clues to the response.

“Nevertheless, it has been another successful year for Multicom with our travel agency software maintaining its market leading position with UK tour operators and travel agents and we look forward to the fresh challenges ahead in 2016.”

15th December 2015 6:39 amComments Off on Multicom brand Heathrow delay a disgrace

Travel management software specialist Multicom has described the recent announcement by the government to delay a decision on the expansion of Heathrow airport as a “disgrace”.

The online travel software specialists had previously campaigned for more capacity to be made available at regional airports such as those that could have been provided in Bristol.

Multicom Chief Executive John Howell had welcomed the report on the future runway capacity for the UK in the summer by Sir Howard Davies saying at that time: “I think it’s a good thing that the report makes clear its recommendations for a third runway at Heathrow.

The online travel software specialists share the frustrations of many businesses by this latest setback to the proposals.

Following the announcement Howell, head of the travel software company, said: “This is a huge blow for the UK economy and quite frankly is a disgrace to further delay a decision for what appears like nothing other than political sensitivities.

“It is hugely frustrating for anyone involved in the travel business and the uncertainty impacts on all of us.”

Multicom’s market leading travel booking engine FindandBook is used by the majority of high street travel agents and tour operators who will be affected as the row draws on.

“Every day’s delay is another day when the UK economy is missing out on the economic benefits and the gains to be made in overseas exports,” added Howell.

13th October 2015 7:12 amComments Off on Multicom reveal further details of revamped WebVoyage solution

Multicom has revealed further details of its revamped WebVoyage e-commerce platform that is to be launched at this year’s World Travel Market (WTM) in London (2-5 November, 2015).

The new look WebVoyage platform will offer a choice of four entry levels designed to meet the varying needs and demands of the marketplace.

The new options range from the entry level WebVoyage Express to a fully bespoke customised solution with the mid level options of WebVoyage Traveller and WebVoyage Premiere completing the line up.

The entry level WebVoyage Express is aimed primarily at the B2B audience offering a more affordable and quick to set up solution for businesses looking for a ready-made e-commerce platform.

For businesses looking for a more flexible solution and greater features designed to meet the needs of consumers WebVoyage Traveller provides a fully branded e-commerce ready solution to cater for the needs of smaller businesses and OTA start ups.

Satisfying the demands of more established online businesses and tour operators looking to improve their online offer and functionality WebVoyage Premiere provides a host of additional features and benefits including Trip Advisor integration and foreign language options.

Finally, for customers who want a dedicated bespoke solution to their online e-commerce requirements Multicom will design and build a customised WebVoyage product to meet the needs of any specialist business.

All four levels of the WebVoyage product range will feature more responsive functionality that is compatible with both mobile and tablet devices; post booking up-sell facilities for agents and a payment reminder and chase up system to produce automated emails to clients.

Multicom Chief Executive John Howell said: “The development of a suite of WebVoyage products directly integrated into Multicom’s travel content and dynamic packaging solution FindandBook will enable us to meet the wide and varied needs of our customers and potential customers.

“It will enable us to offer an e-commerce solution for any need from back office B2B sites to fully transactional sites that are compatible to mobile and tablet devices which is vital when more and more consumers are searching and booking holidays on the move.

“We are delighted with the progress we have made with WebVoyage and will be offering online demonstrations at WTM of the front end consumer facing content and CMS functions to highlight the ease and flexibility of creating promotions on your chosen product.”

“We are confident this new suite of WebVoyage products will underpin our own business objectives while creating opportunities to develop and build relationships with a host of new customers.”

Launching the new product release of WebVoyage at WTM, Multicom is committing to delivering websites agreed at the show in time for Christmas.

The new features available from WebVoyage include more responsive functionality that is compatible with both mobile and tablet devices; post booking up-sell facilities for agents and a payment reminder and chase up system to produce automated emails to clients.

Multicom Chief Executive John Howell said: “These new features being made available to WebVoyage and launched at WTM this year will elevate our offering to a new and exciting level.

“Ensuring all WebVoyage sites are compatible to mobile and tablet devices is crucial in today’s marketplace where more and more customers are searching and booking holidays on the move.

“For agents the ability to promote ancillary products and other post booking up-sell offers to customers who have booked with them is an attractive feature of the new WebVoyage offer.

“They will also find the automated payment reminder and chase up facility an extremely valuable and time saving benefit that WebVoyage provides them with.

“We are delighted with the progress we have made with WebVoyage and are confident these new features and benefits will be key in helping us secure a raft of new business opportunities at this year’s WTM”

Designed to provide a website solution for travel agents, tour operators and other businesses in the travel industry while tailored to the needs of modern OTAs, WebVoyage supports the creation of high quality, feature-rich websites that empower customers to search and book their perfect holiday or itinerary.

In addition WebVoyage is directly integrated into Multicom’s market leading travel content and dynamic packaging solution FindandBook that provides a wide range of fully bookable travel products from many of the biggest brands in the industry.

Call centre and shop-based agents are also catered for as WebVoyage can be configured as a retail website, agent desktop solution or both if required.

Multicom has developed features that allow agents to access dedicated supplier and pricing configurations as well as the ability to manage margin and commission rates.

British tourists could be better prepared for a return of the drachma should Greece be forced to ditch the Euro than many would have thought report travel software solutions specialist Multicom.

A survey of UK holidaymakers carried out by the online travel software company revealed over 65% of British tourists have a secret stash of drachma in a draw or cupboard at home.

Many of them reported they had simply forgotten they had them while others said they kept them for purely sentimental reasons believing they would never need them again or they were worthless.

But many Brits heading to Greece this summer admitted rummaging around to see what they had tucked away following fears that Greece would be forced to leave the Euro as a result of the economic crisis in Athens.

Multicom Chief Executive John Howell said: “Our survey revealed many more of us than we thought keep loose change and small coins after a foreign holiday, either thinking they may come in handy one day in the future or simply they couldn’t be bothered changing such small amounts back to sterling.

“Following the introduction of the Euro many said they simply forgot about the coins they had tucked away or decided to hold on to them for posterity.

“Now though it seems some people have been clearing out those draws and cupboards just in case the drachma comes back, although we suspect for the vast majority their secret savings may not be worth more than a few bob!”